Electric railroad.



G. P. HORTON.

ELECTRIC RAILROAD.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. so, 1999.

Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

z SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. P. HORTON.

ELECTRIC RAILROAD.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. so, 1909.

Patented Sept. 20, 1910.

@Tie

GEORG-E P. HOBTGN, 01'? WASHINGTOlW DISTPCT 0F COLIEA.

ELECTRIC RAXLROAD.

electrical current to the motor.

It frequently happens that cars require to be transferred from the underground line to suburban or other overhead trolley lines, and it then becomes necessary to remove the plow from its pendent position. This is usually accomplished by bodily removing the plow, such removal being eected manually by an operator stationed for the purpose in a `plow pit.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a simple and improved construction whereby the plow may be liingedly connected with the car frame in such a manner that when not required for use it may be readily swung or moved to an inoperative position.

A further object of the invention is to construct a simple and efficient plow pit where the change, may be effected, said pit being normally covered and protected by hingedly` supported lids arranged to normally gravitate to a closed position.

A. still further object of the invention is t-o provide simple and improved mechanism whereby the pit protecting doors may be swung open at the proper time.

A still further object of the invention is to provide simple and improved means for supporting and actuating the plow to swing` the latter toward and from its operative position.

Still further objects of the invention are to simplify and improve the general construction and operation of a device of the character outlined above.

`With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described v and particularly .pointed out in the claims.

Specicaton of Letters Eatent.

Application led September 30, 1909.

presently described.

Patented 22d. serial no. 520,244.

in the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a. simple and pieferiedpform of the invention; it being however understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and niodiications within the-.scope of the invention may be resorted to when desired.

lin the drawings: Figure l a sectional elevation of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, the plow being shown in position for operation. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken in the plane indicated bythe line 2-2 in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a top plan view showing the trucks of a car with the car body removed, the saine being in position adjacent to the plow pit for changing the position of the plow', and the pit doors being shown open. Fig. 4i is a perspective view7 of the plow and its supporting means. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of a car track including the plow pit, the pit doors being shown closed and ready to be swung open by the opening device a portion of which appears. Fig.' 6 is a perspective view sl owing the door opening device detached.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

A car body A. having platforms B-B is mounted in the customary manner upon trucks C-C. y

The railway includes the track rails D--D and the suitably supported underground rails l-E which constitute electrical conductors, said conductors being adapted to be engaged by the plow P which is supported by the car frame in a manner to be The plow, it may be stated in passing, comprises the body plate 10 equipped with the customary spring supported contact slides ll. The electrical circuithas not been indicated inasmuch as it forms no part of the present invention.'

The plow body lO is provided adjacent to its upper edge with a laterally extending apertured lug 1.2 whereby it is pivotally supported upon a rod 13 mounted in lugs or brackets 14: upon a beam 1'5 which constitutes a portion of the car structure; springs 16 are coiledupon the rodl13 between the lugs or brackets ltand the sides ofthe plow for the purpose of centering the latter upon its supporting rod as will be readily under'- stood. rllie plow bodv is also provided. adjacent to its upper edge with an upwardly Cf rfa:

extending arm 17 with which operating rods 18 extending in opposite directions toward the ends of the car are pivotally connected, said operating rods terminating beneath the platforms rlhe rods 18 are terminally connected with the lower ends of operating levers V1S), fulcrumed upon quadrants or segnient racks 2O supported upon the platforms; the Lipper ends of the levers 1%) ai'e suitably shaped to receive an operating liandle 21 which is supported detachably so that it may be conveniently moved or transferred from one lever to another7 and which is provided with a stop member Q2 adapted to engage the quadrant or segment rack for the purpose of retaining the lever upon which the handle is placed in adjusted position. It will be readily seen that by the mechanism thus provided the plow may be swung or moved from the pendent position illustrated in fulllines in Fig. 1 of t-lie drawings to t-lie raised or elevated position indicated in dotted lines in said figure, or vice versa; and also that the plow may be securely retained in any position to which it may be adjusted by the rack engaging stop upon the lever handle. The latter may be readily shifted from one lever to another so as to forni the least practicable obstruction.

Secured upon and extending downwardly from the underside oit the car are a plurality of sockets wherein arms extending upwardly from a frame F are guided from vertical movement. The arms 2st are convnected in pairs by longitudinally disposed direction to a position where it will not interfere with the progress of the car or be liable to engage possible obstructions upon -the pavement. Brackets 28 are provided upon the underside of the car for the purpose of supporting bell cranks G each having a slotted arm 29 pivotally connected with one of the lugs 26, and each having an additional arm 30 that is pivotally connected with one end of a link or operating rod 31, said operating rods extending in opposite directions beneath the car platforms where each ot' said links pivotally connected with one arni' 32 of a suitably supported bell crank lever the other arm of which 83 has a slot which is connected with the lower end of a spring actuated treadle 34 extending for verticalfiiiovement through the car platform and provided at its upper end with a. foot piece 35; the actuating springs 36 serving to force said treadles in i an upward direction.

fit the place in the track where the change of position of the plow is to be ettccted is formed a pit H the side walls of which have been shown as being composed of inclined, plates 3T adjacent to the upper edges of which lids or covers 38 are hingedly supported; the inner edges of said lids adjacentto the ends thereof are upturned te form inclined lugs 39 lying in the path ofthe frame F when the latter is in a lowered position; the ends of said frame being formed with triangular extensions 40. lt will be readily seen that when the upturned inclined lugs 39 at either end of the doors are engaged by the apex of one of the triangular frame extensions elO and said frame is moved for` wardly in a horizontal plane the doors 3S will be gradually swung or mov-ed to an open position from which they will gravitate to a closed position when disengaged from contact with the frame. It will be observed that there is to be va space or opening between tlie inner edges of the doors when closed equal to the width of the slot in which the plow operates; the doors7 when closed, will be supported upon the end walls of the plow pit. j

From the foregoing descriotion taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood by those1 skilled in the art to which it appertaiiis. When the car approaches a plow pit where the posit-ion of the plow is to be changed, the frame I" is lowered by the pressure of the foot of the inotorman upon one of the treadles 34 to a position slightly above the pavement.J it being obvious that this movement may be effected from either end of the car. As the car progresses, the inclined lugs adjacent to one end of the doors will be engaged by the apex of one of the triangular extensions, and the doors will be gradually moved to an open position. The car may now be stopped while one of the levers 19 is actuated to change the position of the plow, either to lift the latter from engagement with the conductors or to restore it to such engagement as the case may be. The car is now again set in motion and the pit covers will gravitate to a closed position immediatel u on beine released from engagement with the frame F after which the latter will be restored to its normal elevated position by of the invention, for 'the reason that the plow body when in a raised position may be ai commodated in a position which is but slightly raised above the ground, thereby making it unnecessary to raise the car body to an excessive height. The upwardly extending arm 17 air'ords a convenient connecting means for thel operating rods whereby the plow is moved or adjusted It will be seen thatl by this invention, the unpleasant and, dangerous work of the operator employed in the usual plow pit may be dispensed with.

The invention is simple in construction and certain in operation and the de vice may be installed at no great expense.

I'Iaving thus described the invention,what is claimed l. In a device of the character described, a cai' iframe, a plow having adjacent to its upper edge a laterally extending lug and an upwardly extending lug, said lugs being disposed adjacent to opposite side edges, supporting means engaging the laterally extending lug, and adjusting means connected with the upwardly extending lug.

2. In a device ot the character described,

a car frame, a plow provided adjacent to its upper edge with a laterally extending lug and an uj'iwardly extending lug, said lugs being disposed adjacent to opposite side edges, pivotal supporting means engaging the late lally extending lug, oppositely extending rods connecl'ied with the upwardly extending lug, actuating levers connected with the rods, detachable handles for said actuating levers, and means tor retaining the parts in adjusted position.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a car having a hingedly supported plow, and means ior moving the plow to various positions and tor supporting it at various adjustments, oi a plow pit, a hingedly supported cover for the samcand means carried by the car frame for engaging the cover to move the same to an open position.

4. In a device ot the character described, a car frame, a hingedly supported plow, ineans for adjusting the plow to various positions, a plow pit, a hingedly supported cover for thev saine having ppturned lugs,l

and a vertically adjustable frame carried by the car Jframe and adapted to engage the lugs to move the cover to an open position. In a device ot' the character described, a. car frame, a plow, a shaft carried by the car frame and engaging the plow adjacent to an upper corner thereoi:- to pivotally support the same, a plow pit having hingedly supported covers, and a frame carried by the car. frame and adapted to be vertically adjusted to engage the pit covers and to move the saine to an open position.

G. In a devicefof the character described,`

a car frame, a' plow pivotally supported adjacent to an upper corner thereof, centering springs bearing against opposite sides ot the plow, ,a plow pit having hingedly supported covers, and a cover-engaging frame arried by and vertically adjustable with reference to the car frame and adapted to engage the pit covers to move the same to an open position.

7. In a device of the character described, a car frame, a )ivotally supported plow, means for adjusting the plow and supporting it at various adjustments, a. plow pit having hingedly supported covers, the inner edges of which aie spaced apart and pro vided with upturned lugs, and a cover-engaging frame supported upon and vertically adjustable with reference to the car trame and having triangular end extensions adapted to engage the upturned lugs of the pit covers.

8. In a device of the character described, a car frame, a plow hingedly supported adjacent to an upper corner of said plow, plow support-ing means carried by Athe ear trame, means for adjusting the plow and for supporting it at various adjustments,sockets upon the bottom of the car, a vertically movable spring-actuated frame having upwardly exteni'ling arms guided in the sockets, a plow pit having` hingedly supported covers provided with upturned lugs, and means for moving the spring-actuated, frame against the tension of the springs to a position where it may engage the upturned lugs of the covers.

9, In a'device ot the character described, a plow pit having hingedly supported cov-- ers, a car, a plow hingedly supported upon the car, means for moving the plow to various positions and for supporting it at various adjustments, a vertically movable spring supported frame connected with the car and adapted by engagement with the pit covers to move said covers to an open position, and means for moving said frame downwardly l to a plane where it will engage the covers.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE l). I'IORTON.

'itnesses: I .Ioiiiv L. FLi-rrcnna, lnxivonn M. Sairrn. 

